Cleaning device



Feb. 18, 1930. H v RAYNOR l 1,747,180

CLEANING DEVICE Filed July 22. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l III/A QMS@ Feb 18, -l930. H. v. RAYNOR 1,747,111 80 CLEANING DEVICE Filed July 22. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheqt 2 Patented Feb. 18, 1930 UNITED STATES HARRY V. RAYNOR, OF DENVER, COLORADO CLEANING DEVICE Application led July 22,

The present invention relates to Cleaning devices and is herein illustrated in its application to brushes or mops of the type adapted for use in cleaning plane surfaces such as '5 Hooi-s, walls, pavements, buildings, and the like. lt will be recognized, however, that in many of its aspects, the invention is not limited to brushes of that particular type, but is generally applicable to the making of cleaning or scouring devices of various types, and accordingly the term brush is hereinafter used in a broad and liberal sense not only to include those objects commonly known as such but all other implements and tools which are capable of cleaning by scraping, rubbing, moppino', brushing, or polishing dirty or contaminated surfaces.

Prior to the present invention, no satisfactory brush or mop had been known fordomestic cleaning of hard surfaces such as stone, tile, or compound floors or walls, and a serious problem was presented to building managers and cleaning departments of large offices, hotels, stores, and public buildings, where thousands of square feet of such surfaces are found in the lobbies, corridors, and lavatories, and demanding a daily orweekly cleaning. lWhile the specific methods of cleaning such floors have varied widely, and to a great extent have been a matter of choice,'some part of the operation generally called for a long-handle brush or mop capable of being shoved over the floor, and, by means of the applied pressure, removed the dirt by a wiping or scraping action. Heretofore, the active or scrubbing surface of the brushes and mops used for this purpose were formed of wooden fibre, rattan, cloth or bristles or by a squeegee consisting of a number of strips of flexible material having all their edges in a straight line. Regardless of theirV construction or cost, these previous brushes were not entirely satisfactory, owing to several well known and inherent disadvantages. Foremost among the latter may be mentioned the short life of the brushes whose working surface quickly wore out'completely or so nearly so as to decrease the efficiency, thereby requiring frequent replacement. Moreover, it was necessary to use hot water and an excess of 1927. Serial N0. 207,721.

detergents to produce an acceptable result, thus further increasing the costof the operation. A further disadvantage in the use of the prior brushes resided in the fact that unglazed tile and stone did not brighten up and respond to the original and natural colo-rs thereof, and practically the whole surface would remain covered with a film or coating of scum which the brushes would not remove.

A general object of this invention is to provide a cleaner of improved construction in which the disadvantages referred to are overcome.

A further object is to improve the construction of cleaners by utilizing for the scrubbing surface rubber, rubber compound, or similar material instead of the wooden fibre, fibrous, metallic or other substances now in use.- The invention is further characterized by the formation of the operative surface of the brush from a plurality of resilient layers, the edges of which are relatively yieldable with respect to each other and thereby producing, when in use, a scrubbing surface which combines frics tion, scraping, wiping, and suction actions against the treated surface.

In a further aspect, the invention contemplates the formation of the brushing surface in a novel shape whereby the various portions thereof are successively brought into contact with the floor as the inclination of the operating handle with respect to the floor changes, due to movement of the brush toward or away from the user.

These and other features of the invention will appear more fully from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

ln the drawings,

Fig. l is a plan View of a preferred form of the invention,

F ig. 2 is a side elevation thereof,

Fig. 8 is a transverse section,

Figs. l and 5 illustrate the brush operated at diderent angles with respect to the floor, and

Figs. 6, 7, and 8 illustrate modifications of the invention.

Referring to the drawings,- and particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 thereof, the reference character 2 denotes generally the head or brushing portion of a brush or mop embodying the features of the invention. The body of the brush, or that portion which actively engages the surface to be cleaned, is composed of a plurality of elongated layers 4, substantially equal in length, and gradually Y increasing in width from the outer or narrowest layer 6, reaching a maximum width at the layer 8 which is intermediate the top and bottom, and then decreasing in width to the inner layer 10, Vthus producing a general arcuate scrubbing surface, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. The layers 4 are formed from rubber, rubber compound, or similar material. The material in the inner tube of an automobile tire has been found to serve the purpose in an admirable manner, although the source of the rubber sheets or layers is immaterial and they can be manufactured from the raw material if desired. The advantage of using old inner tubes is obvious, affording as it does an unusual outlet for a large amount of rubber material which has heretofore been scrapped or reclaimed at great expense.

The rubber layers are retained in assembled relation as a unitary structure by means of metallic backing plates 12 and 14. The layers and plates are provided with perforations adjacent each end and along the longitudinal center to receive the retaining bolts 16 provided on their threaded ends with nuts 1S. If desired, the perforations in the plate 12 may be countersunk to receive the head of the bolts in the manner indicated in Fig. 2. The backing plates and rubber sheets are further provided with aligned central openings for receiving a bolt 20, the inner end of the latter being threaded and extended a substantial distance beyond the plate 14 to receive the internally threaded shank 22 of an operating handle 24. It should be understood that this method of attaching the brush head to the handle is merely illustrative and may be varied in any of a number of Well known methods of attachment, although the brush head is preferably detachable from the brush as a unit, as illustrated, to permit ready replacement and to facilitate shipment.

Vhile the brush head forms a complete and unitary structure when assembled, it can be readily taken apart by loosening the nuts 18 and removing the back plate 14, thereby giving ready access to the individual layers and permit-ting the removal and replacement of one or all thereof as wear or damage demands. Obviously, the efficiency of the brush can be thus maintained at the maximum in a very simple manner, and Without requiring any tools other than a Wrench for unloosening and fastening the nuts.

A brush formed the manner described from rubber layers has proven to be highly eiicient for cleaning stone and tile flooring and is surprisingly superior to the wooden fibre and fabric mops which it is designed to replace. lVhen operated with the accustomed amount of pressure, the rubber layers appear to grip the floor similar to a suction action, and this combined withl the fric-1 tional engagement is elfective to remove all dirt, grime, grease, oil, wax, and other deleterious matter which daily accumulates upon the tile floors of large buildings. In addition to removing the surface dirt, the brush is also effective in removing the thin film or layer of scum and thus brings out the natural colors of the tiles or stones. Moreover, the brush does not require an excessive amount of detergents such as were required heretofore, it being ordinarily sufhcient to merely sprinkle the surface with Water before applying the brush.

The arcuate formation of the scrubbing surfaces also contributes toward improved results. As clearly illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, successive portions of the surfaces are brought into working engagement as the handle changes its angular relation with the surface being cleaned. In this manner the wear is evenly distributed throughout all of the layers, and an eifective contacting area is assured at all times. The tapering of the brush inwardly from an intermediate point toward the rear as Well as the front permits the brush to be pulled toward the operator with as effective results as when it is shoved away.

if desired, one or both ends of the brush may be reduced in size or curved as at 26 to facilitate the cleaning of corners or the joint between the fioorand wall.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6, the body 28 of the brush is formed from a solid block of rubber instead of separate layers. Otherwise, the arrangement is similar to the preferred form.

Fig. 7 illustrates a further obvious modification. The ybody is formed from a solid block 3() of rubber, the opposite edges of which are slit as at 32 to form a plurality of terminal layers 34. This construction is a. distinct improvement over that in which only7 a plurality of layers is used. The integral body portion supports the edge layers more stifliy than in the usual squeegee formed of a plurality of superimposed strips. The danger of one of the strips being torn by the securing means, as the bolt 20, is done away with. There is no great amount of slipping between the layers, as they are all strongly supported near the edge of the brush. The action of the blades is entirely dierent and their cleaning action is greatly improved.

Fig. 8 shows an application of the invention to a rotary, power-driven brush. A hub or brush carrier 38 fixed to shaft 36 is provided With radially extending arms 40, the outer portion of which is recessed to receive the rubber layers 42 constituting the brushing elements. The latter are secured Within the recess of the arms in any suitable manner, as for example, by a bolt 44. The layers in each group vary in Width to produce the general arcuate shape for the purpose previously described.

Since the manner in which the different parts of the brush operate to perform their functions has been set forth in connection with the detailed description of the device, no further description of the operation is necessary for an understanding of the invention.

Having described the invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A cleaning device comprising a head formed of resilient material, a transverse section through said head having approximately the shape of a segment of a circle, the

curved surfaces of said head forming cleaning edges, the cleaning edges of the head consisting of a plurality of layers of rubber in superimposed relation, means for bracing the front and rear faces of the head, a handle for operating the device, and means for detachably connecting the handle to the bracing means at substantially a right angle With the front and rear faces of the head.

2. A cleaning device comprising a head formed of resilient material and having a solid substantially non-yielding body portion and a cleaning edge, said edge consisting of a plurality of superimposed layers of resilient material, said layers being integral With said body portion, and being normally in contact With the adjacent layers.

3. A cleaning device comprising a head having a cleaning edge, said cleaning edge being curved in cross section and consisting of a plurality of layers of resilient material in superposed relation and normally in contact with the adjacent layers.

4. A cleaning device comprising a head formed of resilient material and having a solid body portion and a cleaning edge, said edge consisting of a plurality of superimposed layers of resilient material, said layers being integral with said body portion and being normally in contact With the adjacent layers, said edge being curved in cross seetion.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my signature.

HARRY V. RAYNOR. 

